Editor’s Note: Qasim Rashid is a national spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. Follow him on Twitter @MuslimIQ.

By Qasim Rashid, Special to CNN

When will Iran's government and clerics stop running from the truth that their religion - which they call Islam - would be unrecognizable to the Prophet Mohammed?

On the mere allegation that American pastor Saeed Abedini evangelized Christianity, Iran threw him in front of a member of its Revolutionary Court, whom many have called a “hanging judge.” Abedini now faces eight years in prison, which is nothing short of reprehensible, immoral and cowardly.

If Iran’s purpose was to protect what it thinks is Islam, it has failed.

In 1902, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, courageously declared, “Religion is worth the name only so long as it is in consonance with reason. If it fails to satisfy that requisite, if it has to make up for its weakness in argument by handling the sword, it needs no other argument for its falsification. The sword it wields cuts its own throat before reaching others.”

Thus, in using force to counter Abedini’s alleged evangelism - an oppressive act alien to Islam - Iran’s religion cuts only its own throat.

If Iran’s purpose was to silence Abedini, it has failed. More people worldwide now know of him, his message of Christianity, his struggle and his passion than ever would have otherwise. Iran has given Abedini a loudspeaker that he never could have built on his own. Thus, while trying to silence Abedini's message, Iran’s religion silences only itself.

If Iran’s purpose was to honor Prophet Mohammed, it has failed. The message it has given to the world is one of intolerance and fear, characteristics alien to Mohammed's example of love and pluralism. Iran’s act does more to dishonor the prophet than Abedini ever could. Thus, by cowardly, hypocritically and ignorantly demonizing Christianity, Iran’s religion makes only itself look hideous.

As a practicing Muslim, I’m not sure what religion Iran practices, but it has nothing to do with the Islam that my Prophet Mohammed taught.

And what exactly did Mohammed teach?

My Mohammed declared in writing to St. Catherine’s Monastery at Sinai, “This is a message from Mohammed ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. … The Muslims are to fight for them. … Their churches are to be respected. … No one of the Muslims is to disobey this covenant until the Last Day.”

My Mohammed championed the Quranic commandment to protect all houses of worship, including churches. “Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made - because they have been wronged. … Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is God’ - And if God did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of God is oft commemorated” (22:40-41).

My Mohammed returned to Mecca peacefully and victoriously and, citing Prophet Joseph’s noble example, graciously forgave all his persecutors. While Mecca exiled Mohammed only for his faith, Mohammed now protected the rights of all to stay in Mecca regardless of their faith. But with one condition: that freedom of conscience remain free for all people, Muslim or not.

Had Iran followed Prophet Mohammed's Islam, no such “hanging judge” would exist, no such eight-year prison sentence would exist, and no such restrictions on Abedini’s peaceful preaching would exist.

soundoff(568 Responses)

Alfredo

Certainly Mohammed, Jesus, Moses, etc wouldn't be happy with the manipulative and controlling theocracy of Iran's government. Mohammed would not tolerate the entire Ayatollah perpetual rule of domination. Islam in particular compared to Christianity(today) and Judaism is the most fractured of religions. I have never seen such a sectarian divide in any religion that there is in Islam. Sunni hate the Shia, Shia hate the Sunnis. Kurds hate the rest. Gulf states hate Iran. Iran hates them back. Egypt is a mess. Syria is a mess. Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, Africa, on and on religion perpetuates selfish manipulation leading to sectarian divide. None of this leads to a healthy and productive society. Would Mohammed be satisfied with any of this?

February 9, 2013 at 1:24 pm |

Rick

That's an easy one. Mohammed would raise an army and go from country to country forcing his religion on all he could. Yes in many cases the locals could practice their old religions but Mohammed's governors did everything in their power to make life as a Muslim preferential to that of a non-Mulim via taxation, licensing and all manner of unequal treatment.

That said, Christians are non better. Especially those in the USA.

February 9, 2013 at 1:18 pm |

Sohaib Awan

There is absolutely no recorded history of the prophet Muhammad (saw) raising armies and forcing nations under his rule. The truth is, as stated by the article, the Qur'an explicitly commands Muslims to protect the houses of worship of all other religions. Also, a real Muslim state does impose an extra tax on non-Muslims. But that is only because Muslims would already be obligated to pay Zakat, a yearly social tax. Muslims are also required to participate in jihad, defending the country. Both of those things are not required of a non-Muslim in a Muslim state so it makes sense that non-Muslims pay the jizya, extra religious tax.

February 9, 2013 at 11:16 pm |

The Truth

Islam is a lie and has cost humanity many lives and have been mistreating women and those they label infidels for centuries. Likewise, Christianity is a lie and has cost humanity many lives and have been mistreating women and those they label heretics for centuries. They, along with all the other false religions of the world, are being exposed for what they are and there is not a thing their members can do about it except flee from them as fast as they can.

February 9, 2013 at 1:12 pm |

Correctlycenter

I will trust the God of the bible as the "truth" and not necessarily your standard of what's true and false. I will believe in the word of the LORD and not someone who is obsessive in trying to disprove the Creator who obviously exists...

February 9, 2013 at 1:21 pm |

The Truth

Right, and for a long long time the world was "obviously" flat. Have fun living in the past, the future will not miss you.

February 9, 2013 at 1:31 pm |

End Religion

I am under the impression the Prophet Mohammed would likely just continue on with his propensity for pedophilia and murder no matter what else was happening.

February 9, 2013 at 12:06 pm |

RUNMAD

Your impression is incorrect, not based in reality, facts, or history. Address the author's arguments rather than making unmerited assumptions.

February 9, 2013 at 12:44 pm |

End Religion

is anyone disagreeing that he fucked a 9 year old?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisha

He was also a pioneer of mass murder.

http://www.historyofjihad.org/mohammed.html

Again, how is my impression of your friendly murdering pedophile off? And you worship this monster?

February 9, 2013 at 4:08 pm |

Live4Him

@End Religion : Again, how is my impression of your friendly murdering pedophile off? And you worship this monster?

Well, I'm impressed. You used empirical evidence rather than your opinion to argue your case. Bravo! However, you did seek to sidetrack the issue from Iran's views to the Prophet Mohammed himself.

February 9, 2013 at 4:11 pm |

End Religion

is anyone disagreeing that God fucked a @12 year old?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_%28mother_of_Jesus%29

He was also a pioneer of mass murder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_flood_narrative

Again, how is my impression of your friendly murdering pedophile off? And you worship this monster?

The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, also known as the British Zionist Federation or simply the Zionist Federation (ZF), was established in 1899 to campaign for a permanent homeland for the Jewish people. The Zionist Federation is an umbrella organisation for the Zionist movement in the United Kingdom, representing more than 120 organisations, and over 50,000 affiliated members.

February 9, 2013 at 11:58 am |

donnydarko

I just read all these post and I think this is a case of uneducated barefooted meth smokin hillbillys trying to pass themselves off as a smarter breed of inbreeds !

February 9, 2013 at 11:54 am |

pastures666

You are ignorant...
Be sure of this Every knee will bow and every mouth confess that Jesus is Lord.
One day you all wil die by various ways You will either go to Heaven and be in Peace for Eternity.
Or You wil be with Satan... We are All sinners no matter what good You think you've done..
The Bible says their's no one righteous no not one... 1-888-NeedHim.

February 9, 2013 at 12:57 pm |

Rick

That goes for pretty much every internet forum hah.

February 9, 2013 at 1:23 pm |

Live4Him

@pastures666 : You are ignorant... 1-888-NeedHim.

Is this the way Christ would talk to donnydarko? Are you trying to represent Satan or Christ? You cannot act like one while advocating for the other and expect to be taken seriously.

February 9, 2013 at 1:37 pm |

Marie

Why are some people so obsessed with "facts" and "logic", as if these are the highest ideals achievable?
Why do they assume that others must live under their values of reason and logic?
Why do they impose their values on others?

February 9, 2013 at 11:49 am |

MrPants

Yes, I agree. And logic and facts are part of God's creation.
It is not by chance we were given the power to reason, to examine the evidence of our senses, and to draw conclusions.
It was by design.

February 9, 2013 at 11:58 am |

TANK!!!!

Because those who eschew reason also often happen to be the loudest and most domineering among us.

February 9, 2013 at 12:51 pm |

The Truth

"Why do they assume that others must live under their values of reason and logic?" say the people who still believe the world is flat...

February 9, 2013 at 12:56 pm |

Rick

huh? I hope you are being facetious. One of the major problems with American society today is that people are actually starting to believe that their opinions are as valid as another's facts.

February 9, 2013 at 1:25 pm |

ISLAMISM FOUNDATION OF US TAX CODE, NO WONDER PEOPLE HATE THE IRS

Saeed is next in a line to go to space.

February 9, 2013 at 10:27 am |

December

Qasim, I appreciate this article.

> "because Christians are my citizens; "

God's ways typically push beyond human boundaries. I can see mercy and healing extended to those regarded as outsiders to my faith. That's why Jesus asks us to love our neighbors. He is very good.

February 9, 2013 at 10:12 am |

TANK!!!!

Mercy and healing for now, and an eternity of torture in hell forever because they did not accept Jeebus the Amazing Flying Zombie.

February 9, 2013 at 12:52 pm |

George Adams

What Mr. Qasim Rashid neglects to tell you is that his own religion "Ahmadiyya" is an Islamic cult and nothing to do with Islam. His religion was started in Pakistan and is interestingly enough is actually banned in Pakistan which last time I checked was a Muslim country. Mr. Rashid has as much right to talk about Islam as David Koresh did about Christianity.

February 9, 2013 at 9:50 am |

RUNMAD

Ad hominem attacks are the refuge of those incapable of forming a coherent response to the arguments presented. Thanks for proving the author's point even more.

February 9, 2013 at 10:11 am |

Live4Him

@RUNMAD : Ad hominem attacks are the refuge of those incapable of forming a coherent response to the arguments presented.

Agreed.

February 9, 2013 at 1:08 pm |

Rick

Regardless of his religious affiliations the author did quote the prophet correctly. Which is all that matters here. Secondly, the fact Pakistan may have made illegal his branch of Islam is more a commentary on Pakistan and mainstream Islam than it is on the author's branch.

February 9, 2013 at 1:28 pm |

Abdur Rahman Khan

"What Mr. Qasim Rashid neglects to tell you is that his own religion "Ahmadiyya" is an Islamic cult and nothing to do with Islam" @ George Adams
Georget Adams has shown his absolute ignorance about islam. Muslims are generally divided into two main "schools of thought" i.e. Sunnis or Ahle Sunnah wal jama'ah and Shias. Within these two main bodies are a number of smaller communities. A similar example could be cited inChristianity. i.e. Roman Catholic and Protestants. With Roman Catholics being the larger of the two and they are all divided into subsects. The hmadiyya Muslim Community is within the mainstream "Ahle Sunna wal jama'ah" thugh the Pakistani Government has outlawed it in 1974 and has sought for the community to be ostracized in most "Muslim" countries as well including Iran. Mr. Qasim Rashid simply pointed out what the Holy Prophet Muhammad would have done in this case. Instead of understanding the real issue you unjustly attacked him and his belief. You are no better than the ayatollah!

February 9, 2013 at 6:10 pm |

Sohaib Awan

What you fail to understand is that almost all of his responses were corroborated with the Qur'an so it does not matter if you think he belongs to a "heretic" sect of Islam. He in the end is still using the main source of Islamic guidance to make his point.

February 9, 2013 at 11:21 pm |

Oscar not wilde

This guy sounds a peaceful Muslim.

February 9, 2013 at 9:22 am |

just wondering

Seal team 6 created a peaceful muslim at osama bin ladens house awhile back.

I thank god that the only true god came into our world and showed his love for the father by dying in complete obedience to his will and showed to the world true love also proclaiming who god is by doing his will. God exalted this Jesus who became the least to the highest position and every knee will bow and lounge confess he is LOrD

February 9, 2013 at 9:10 am |

bobk52

I think u meant to say- every knee will bend & confess he the loRd?

February 9, 2013 at 11:04 am |

Namje*

Yeah sorry i meant Tongue

February 10, 2013 at 7:11 am |

Mason

To bring Bush Back, your boy was in office and he had his chance to do something but obviously he attacked the weakest county of axis Evil. I want to give you some thing to think about if Bush was in office today he could not do a FFF thing. Just remember BIN LADEN FAMILY FLEW OUT OF USA ON 9/11 THE SAME DAY WE GOT ATTACKED THAT TELLS YOU WHO IS THE BOSS Digest this fact for little while and do not rumble..

February 9, 2013 at 9:03 am |

Mason

All you Muslim,christian and Jews are nuts.there is no god just chill out help your neighbor and humanity.

February 9, 2013 at 8:53 am |

Haint

Right.

February 9, 2013 at 9:53 am |

Shawn

Why? Who say I have to? You? or Charles Manson? The cultures that teach us to love our neighbor or the ones that teach us to eat them? Are we governed then by the beuricrats that are greedy and want more money and more power, by a set of laws that continue to transition depending on who is in power. A world without a God that expects something greater than ourselves, and without followers that follows those laws, we are led to anarchy or moral pluralism. The reason that our country (as bad as it can be sometimes) is decent is because its laws were founded by people that respected this persective. Not all believed in it but all respected it.

February 9, 2013 at 1:30 pm |

Reality

For those who are reading challenged:

From a PowerPoint slide–

SAVING 1.5 BILLION LOST MUSLIMS:
THERE NEVER WERE AND NEVER WILL BE ANY ANGELS I.E. NO GABRIEL, NO ISLAM AND THEREFORE NO MORE KORANIC-DRIVEN ACTS OF HORROR AND TERROR LIKE 9/11.

SAVING 2 BILLION LOST CHRISTIANS:
THERE WERE NEVER ANY BODILY RESURRECTIONS AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY BODILY RESURRECTIONS I.E. NO EASTER, NO CHRISTIANITY.

SAVING 15.5 MILLION FOLLOWERS OF JUDAISM:
ABRAHAM AND MOSES PROBABLY NEVER EXISTED.

Added details upon request.

February 9, 2013 at 7:44 am |

Atheism is not healthy for children and other living things

Pray without ceasing
Prayer changes things

February 9, 2013 at 7:33 am |

Mason

Why do u think Christianity,judaism and Islam ins any better ? So far none of worked lets try Atheism.

February 9, 2013 at 9:07 am |

truth be told

Try atheism???
Atheists have tortured and murdered more innocent people in the last 100 years than were killed in all previous centuries.

February 9, 2013 at 9:27 am |

midwest rail

Mornin', t.b.t. ! Don't forget to change screen names this time when you post as the captain !

February 9, 2013 at 9:29 am |

truth be told

All so called atheists are liars, this simple Truth is proven once again by midwest. Thanks for proving what a liar you are.

Truth will out the most vicious of so called atheists and there are a great couple of examples of so called atheist liars outed here this morning. Thanks For being you tom you bring definition to the word useless.

February 9, 2013 at 9:40 am |

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

You're even lame as a troll, captain azzwipe. Get a new schtick.

February 9, 2013 at 9:42 am |

Mason

We all lie to our kid since they were born. I want to know how did u feel when you find out there was no Santa. lie is a lie.

February 9, 2013 at 9:46 am |

truth be told

There is a Santa mason, based on Saint Nicholas who was a real person.
tom tom, you continue to prove your irrelevance, glad you're not on our side. Thanks for proving my statements.

February 9, 2013 at 9:50 am |

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

There was a santa mason?

I love it when an illiterate dolt tries to impersonate a sentient human. If captain azzhole ran the schools, we'd be back to living in caves in a decade.

February 9, 2013 at 10:05 am |

Ugh

Tom Tom you are dumb dumb

February 9, 2013 at 11:00 am |

The Truth

"We all lie to our kid since they were born. I want to know how did u feel when you find out there was no Santa. lie is a lie."

@tbt – "There is a Santa mason, based on Saint Nicholas who was a real person.
tom tom, you continue to prove your irrelevance, glad you're not on our side. Thanks for proving my statements."

So you are saying that parents don't lie to their kid's about Santa? lol

Every time tbt opens their mouth out comes a half truth mixed with a ton of verbal diarrhea. Sometimes the half truth isn't even visible...

February 9, 2013 at 1:08 pm |

Rick

Only if you are incapable of understanding the concept of coincidence.

"...that freedom of conscience remain free for all people."....freedom of rights...freedom of all religions....
***to say that it is right to be free to worship any god***.
Man calls this way "freedom".
The One God calls this way "disobedience".
The One Truth is that it is Only Christ, the Son of the One God, that will rule...and He will do so with a rod of iron according to the WILL of the One God.

The time is at hand for the king of the north has advanced his "god of fortresses" (freedom) into all nations and into the Holy Land.

February 9, 2013 at 7:32 am |

Woody

".......and He will do so with a rod of iron......"

You'd think that Christ would use ti-tanium or maybe carbon fiber or some other space age material that he'd obviously have at his disposal. Iron??? That's so Old Testament. Get with the times, Christ.

February 9, 2013 at 10:02 am |

Live4Him

@Woody : You'd think that Christ would use ti-tanium or maybe carbon fiber

Imagine if Christ DID say 'carbon fiber'. In those days, who would understand Him? Non one. They'd all think He had lost His mind.

February 9, 2013 at 1:11 pm |

Woody

"They'd all think He had lost His mind." – Live4Him

I'm sure some of his contemporaries already thought he'd lost his mind.
The post, that I replied to, meant that if the Second Coming occurs, (you know, the one Christians have been waiting a couple of thousand years for) Christ will THEN rule with an "iron rod". Sorry for the confusion.

February 9, 2013 at 1:58 pm |

Bring Bush Back

"Thus, in using force to counter Abedini’s alleged evangelism – an oppressive act alien to Islam ." – Happens everyday. I think the problem is Mohammed himself changed. Though some of his teaching seem more in line with it's Jewish roots, some is very radical. Though the author seems to favor the earlier teachings of Mohammed, radical Islam (which is rampant, and not just in Iran) follows his more questionable teachings.

February 9, 2013 at 7:26 am |

TRUTH will set you free

I tend to agree. If I understand my history correctly, Mohammed was more in line with his Jewish roots and preached a message of love, until the Jewish community proclaimed him to be a heratic. And then came the new Mohammed which demanded the elimination of all of don't bow their knee to Islam (Jihad). It is said that the Muslims of the Western world are not acknowedged by the muslims of the East as true followers.
The Truth is immutable, never changing." All knees will bow and proclaim Him as Lord."

Why do you ramble on so? No one is going to read your article comment, it is WAY too long...

February 9, 2013 at 7:27 am |

Reality

Dear Muslims of the world:

From the studies of Armstrong, Rushdie, Hirsi Ali, Richardson and Bayhaqi----–

The Five Steps To Deprogram 1400 Years of Islamic Myths:

( –The Steps take less than two minutes to finish- simply amazing, two minutes to bring peace and rationality to over one billion lost souls- Priceless!!!)

Are you ready?

Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith" a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.

"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."

Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gi-b G-nab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "crea-tionist".

"3. To believe in the existence of angels."

A major item for neuron cleansing. Angels/de-vils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hitt-ites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ug-ly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as f–airies and "tin–ker be-lls". Modern de-vils are classified as the de-mons of the de-mented.

"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."

Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.

Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the un-educated masses in line. Today we call them for-tune tellers.

Prophecies are also invali-dated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.

"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings
be upon him) alone."

Mohammed spent thirty days "fasting" (the Ramadan legend) in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic vi-olence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallu-cinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.

Walk these Five Steps and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!

Unfortunately, there are not many Muslim commentators/readers on this blog so the "two-minute" cure is not getting to those who need it. If you have a Muslim friend, send him a copy and help save the world.

Analogous steps are available at your request for deprogramming the myths of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Paganism..

February 9, 2013 at 7:19 am |

Bring Bush Back

LOL, actually read what you wrote. What a waste of time. Two minutes of my life that I will never get back...

February 9, 2013 at 7:31 am |

Reality

For those who are slow readers:

From a PowerPoint slide–

SAVING 1.5 BILLION LOST MUSLIMS:
THERE NEVER WERE AND NEVER WILL BE ANY ANGELS I.E. NO GABRIEL, NO ISLAM AND THEREFORE NO MORE KORANIC-DRIVEN ACTS OF HORROR AND TERROR LIKE 9/11.

SAVING 2 BILLION LOST CHRISTIANS:
THERE WERE NEVER ANY BODILY RESURRECTIONS AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY BODILY RESURRECTIONS I.E. NO EASTER, NO CHRISTIANITY.

SAVING 15.5 MILLION FOLLOWERS OF JUDAISM:
ABRAHAM AND MOSES PROBABLY NEVER EXISTED.

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.